Much ado about nothing?

It is always around this time of year when the toy companies begin introducing their latest toys at conventions and trade fairs, gauging reaction and putting together their big marketing push for the holidays. This year, there will be a toy that is already quite successful across Europe, but new to the U.S., and it is creating quite a stir. It is a baby doll. That in itself is nothing new; it is what this doll does that has some parents and child development specialists up in arms.

Baby dolls have evolved over the years. Eyes that closed when they were lying down, dolls that crawled, cooed and...